Filter cartridge efficiency demonstrator



Oct. 27, 1970 w, c, TURMAN 3,535,798

FILTER CARTRIDGE EFFICIENCY DEMONSTRATOR Filed April :5, 1969 Fig.3

l8 INVIiN'l'UR 34 4 WILLIAM C. TURMAN '0 32 my; & 14mm United States Patent Oflice Patented Oct. 27, 1970 3,535,798 FILTER CARTRIDGE EFFICIENCY DEMONSTRATOR William C. Turman, 2541 Skyline Drive, Lemon Grove, Calif. 92045 Filed Apr. 3, 1969, Ser. No. 813,042 Int. C1. C09]: /00

U.S. CI. 51 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus demonstrates the comparative efficiency of a pair of filters by pumping contaminated fluid from a common reservoir, through both filters and back to separate but adjacent inlets in the reservoir, for comparative inspection. The fluid is visible in the reservoir and while travelling to and from the filters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to filters and specifically to a filter cartridge efliciency demonstrator.

In comparative testing or demonstration of items such as filters, it is necessary that the units being compared are subjected to identical test conditions. Laboratory type apparatus is available for such purposes, but is unsuitable for direct comparison for sales promotion as a spontaneous demonstration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus described herein holds a pair of filters being compared and has a transparent reservoir from which contaminated fluid is pumped, by a common pump, through the filters and back to adjacent inlets in the reservoir, at which the filtered fluid can be inspected. The fluid conducting hoses are also transparent, so that the flow can be seen, and the apparatus is self-contained and readily portable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the complete apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus is mounted on a rigid base plate 10 of any suitable material, and has an upright reservoir 12 fixed substantially at the center. On opposite sides of the reservoir 12 are fixed brackets 14 supporting a pair of raised platforms 16 and 18, on which filter canisters 20 and 22, respectively, are mounted. The filter canisters are made to suit the filters being tested and, for oil filters, could be the actual canisters used to hold the filters on vehicles. Means for securing and sealing the canisters to the platforms can vary but a preferred form is exemplified by a bolt 24 for canister 20 and a clamp strap 26 for canister 22.

Reservoir 12 is at least partially transparent so that the contaminated fluid 28 is readily visible. At the bottom of the reservoir is a pump 30, illustrated as a simple ear pump, with an inlet 32 inside the reservoir and a delivery outlet 34 extending from the reservoir. Pump 30 could be motorized but, for demonstration purposes is preferably operated by a drive shaft 36 connected to one of the gears in the pump and having a crank 38 extending above the reservoir for manual rotation.

Fixed to outlet 34 is a T-connection 40, from which a delivery hose 42 leads to an inlet 44 on the underside of platform 16, and a delivery hose 46 leads to an inlet 48 on the underside of platform 18. Platform 16 has an outlet 50 from which a return hose 52 leads to a return inlet 54 in the upper portion of reservoir 12. Platform 18 similarly has an outlet 56 from which a return hose 58 leads to a return inlet 60 in the reservoir, spaced horizontally from return inlet 54. All hoses are preferably transparent, so that the fluid flow is visible. Inlets 44 and 48 and outlets 50 and 56 communicate with the interiors of the respective canisters for proper flow of fluid through the filters, the raised platforms facilitating all the connections without obstructing the apparatus. Inside reservoir 12, immediately below the return inlets, is a shelf 62 inclined downwardly from the return inlets and extending partially across the reservoir, so that returning fluid flows over the shelf and drips into the lower portion of reservoir. The shelf 62 can be transparent, or have a surface on which the fluid is easily seen. Drive shaft 36 passes through a guide opening 64 in shelf 62, which serves to stabilize the shaft during operation.

With a filter 66 in canister 20 and a filter 68 in canister 22, crank 38 is turned to pump contaminated fluid out of the reservoir to the filters. After filtration the fluid is expelled from return inlets 54 and 60 to spread in a film over shelf 62. With the two streams of fluid side by side, the comparative cleanliness and thus the efiiciency of the individual filters, is readily apparent. If return hoses 52 and 58 are of slightly deformable plastic material, they may be frictionally held in close fitting openings in the reservoir. This will facilitate their removal for draining the apparatus when necessary, the raised platforms allowing the canisters to drain properly through the bottom outlets.

I claim:

1. A filter cartridge efficiency demonstrator, comprising:

a base having an upright reservoir thereon, said reservoir being at least partially transparent;

a pump in the lower portion of said reservoir, having a fluid delivering outlet;

a pair of filter containing canisters mounted on said base;

delivery hoses connecting said outlet to each of said canisters;

return hoses from each of said canisters to the upper portion of said reservoir, said return hoses terminating at spaced return inlets into the reservoir; and

a shelf fixed in said reservoir below said return inlets,

over which returning fluid flows for visual examination.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said base has raised platforms on which said canisters are mounted, said delivery and return hoses being connected to the respective canister from below said platforms.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said shelf is in- References Cited clined downwardly from immediately below said return UNITED STATES PATENTS inlets and extends partially across said reservoir.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said delivery and 1,837,225 12/1931 Llpskl 35 49 return hoses are transparent. 1954,56 4/1934 3551 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said return hoses 5 2045898 6/1936 Cunlson are frictionally held in said reservoir at said return inlets.

6. The structure of claim 1 and including a hand crank having a driving connection to said pump, said hand crank extending above said reservoir and passing through and 10 being supported by said platform. 541

WILLIAM H. GRIEB, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

